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Food Bank Launches Senior Food Mobile Program With Support From Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation

Seniors Receive Nutritious Food Staples, Cooking Demos & Recipes, and Information on Community Resources at Senior Food Mobiles in York County

Sanford, ME – On Wednesday, August 29, Good Shepherd Food Bank launched a new program to reach seniors in need of food assistance. The Food Bank will be hosting 12 Senior Food Mobile distributions in York County thanks to the generous support of Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation.

The Senior Food Mobile will visit low-income senior housing complexes and other sites where seniors congregate to deliver nutritious food like fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats, all specially selected by a nutritionist with the dietary needs of seniors in mind.

In addition to providing healthy staple foods to seniors, the Food Bank has partnered with Partners For A Hunger Free York County, AARP, Caring Unlimited, and York County Community Action to provide participating seniors with information on other community resources available to them. The Food Bank also brings staff from its Cooking Matters program to provide cooking demonstrations, recipes, and samples for participants.

“Right now, nearly one in three Americans age 65 years or older live in low income households. To make matters more difficult, healthcare and housing costs in Maine are high, and place a huge strain on the fixed budgets of many of our seniors,” says Clara McConnell, communications manager at Good Shepherd Food Bank.

“Since Maine is the oldest state in that nation, it’s more important than ever that we take an active role in caring for our elderly neighbors,” says McConnell.

The Food Bank has scheduled upcoming Senior Food Mobiles at Sunset Towers at 941 Main Street in Sanford for Wednesday, August 29 from 2pm to 4pm and Wednesday, September 26 from 2pm to 4pm. The Senior Food Mobile will visit Good Shepherd Parish at 41 Sullivan Street in Biddeford on Tuesday, October 9 from 2pm to 4pm. Additional distributions will be scheduled and announced later this fall.

“This is a wonderful program,” said a participating senior at the pilot distribution in Sanford this July. “We recently had our food stamps cut down by $120. Our income hasn’t gone up at all, so it’s been tough. But we have to eat, and programs like this are a big help.”

For more information about the Senior Food Mobile Program, please contact Shannon Coffin at (207) 782-3554 ext. 1163 or scoffin@gsfb.org. For statistics on poverty and hunger, photos, or interview requests, please contact Clara McConnell at (207) 782-3554 ext. 2107 or cmcconnell@gsfb.org.

About Good Shepherd Food Bank

The largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food Bank provides for those at risk of hunger by acquiring surplus and purchased food and distributing that food to more than 600 partner agencies across Maine.  Since 1981, the Food Bank has partnered with individuals, businesses, and farmers to alleviate hunger and build community relationships.  In 2011 the Food Bank distributed 13 million pounds of food to families in need.  Phone:  (207) 782-3554; Website:  www.gsfb.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingmaine; Twitter: www.twitter.com/feedingmaine.

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